Cornwall Council recently published an impact assessment on the so-called “devolution deal,” that was agreed between it and the UK Government in 2015. The document sets out what has happened over the last three years or so.

An accompanying press statement described how the agreement was
“ground-breaking,” and added that Cornwall had made history by being the
“first rural authority to achieve such a deal.”

People may
remember that, at the time, the UK Government claimed it was a “major
step” in their commitment to “extend opportunity to every corner of our
country” and that Cornwall would be gaining “historic new powers.”

I
see it very differently and I do not consider that the “devolution
deal” was about devolution at all. It would be churlish not to
acknowledge that it contained some stuff of merit, but it was
essentially an accommodation between the UK Government and local
government in Cornwall on a limited range of specific matters.

I
cannot see how anyone can keep arguing it was significant, especially
as it did not even need legislation in the House of Commons to be
agreed.

It is such a contrast to what has happened in Scotland
and Wales where, this year, people will be celebrating the twentieth
anniversary of the creation of the National Assembly of Wales and the
Scottish Parliament.

The Scottish Parliament has planned a
year-long programme of events to celebrate what has been achieved over
the past two decades and it is an impressive list. It has legislated for
free personal care for the elderly, free eye and dental tests, an end
to prescription charges, an end to tuition fees for students, the
introduction of votes for sixteen year olds, numerous land reforms and
much, much more. They also brought the 2014 Commonwealth Games to
Glasgow.

In addition, the Scottish Parliament has proved to be
an institution which has been able to champion the best interests of
Scotland. This has especially been the case in recent years, when it has
fought to ensure that the Westminster Parliament knows what would be in
the best interests of Scottish communities.

Here in Cornwall,
we need a similar body that has the power and authority to make the key
decisions about the political, economic, environmental and cultural
issues that matters to us all.

Anyone interested in finding out
more, can request a free copy of MK’s booklet “Towards a National
Assembly of Cornwall” from me at dickcole@btinternet.com.

There are so many truly wonderful aspects to Cornwall’s identity and culture, and I personally consider that the most important factor in our distinctiveness to be the Cornish language. This is because, to me, the continued existence of our own Celtic language, emphasises that we have a national identity, rather than simply a regional or county character.

Cornwall Council recently published an impact assessment on the so-called “devolution deal,” that was agreed between it and the UK Government in 2015. The document sets out what has happened over the last three years or so.